Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2025/11/01
Ontario iGaming Marks Record Month with CA$8.5 Billion in Wagers
iGaming Ontario (IGO) reported another all-time record of CA$8.5 billion wagered in September across the province’s 50 licensed commercial online casino operators.
This marks a 5% increase compared to the previous record of CA$8.14 billion set in August. The figure, which excludes bonuses and other free promotional wagers, is 30.7% higher than in September 2024. Most of the increase can be attributed to online casino wagering, which was more than $7.34 billion.
September was also a record-breaking month in terms of active players, with the most active players since Ontario first launched its regulated iGaming market in April 2022. In September, nearly 1.2 million active player accounts were active in placing wagers, up 36% year-over-year, and above the record that was previously set in February 2025. However, the average revenue per account of CA$282 was 15% and 12% lower year-on-year and month-on-month, respectively.
Overall non-adjusted Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for September was CA$329.4 million, down from August’s CA$335 million, but up 18.8% compared to September 2024.
Canadian Senate Passes Again National Sports Betting Advertising Bill
The Canadian Senate passed another bill to govern the country’s advertising code for sports betting operators. Bill S-211, sponsored by Senator Marty Deacon, is based on a similar draft to Bill S-269 that was passed in 2024.
The bill will require the federal Minister of Canadian Heritage to establish a countrywide framework to guide and regulate sports betting advertising across Canada by limiting the ad placements by ‘number, scope, and location.’
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has been leading the industry’s objection, arguing that this countrywide measure will override work already done by individual provinces and industry bodies to regulate advertising. Major sports leagues, including the NHL and NFL, have also raised concerns over the similar initiative that passed last year.
Casino Game Provider Playson Partners with PointsBet to Bring Canadian Players Innovative Casino Games
Playson, a leading iGaming software provider based in Malta, has recently announced a partnership with operator PointsBet to bring its Canadian players its portfolio of games. Players on PointBet’s Canadian platform now have access to the developer’s popular Hold and Win games, including Hold and Win, Thunder Coins XXL: Hold and Win, and 4 Pots Riches: Hold and Win. Playson has been live in Canadian online casinos for many years and launched its games in Ontario in 2022.
Brooke Hilton, Head of Casino at PointsBet Canada, said that the content said that the Hold and Win collection had already proved popular with players across Ontario. She added that it will help PointsBet deliver “the engaging, high-quality experiences our players know and expect from PointsBet.”
10 Canadian Casinos Achieve Responsible Gaming Accreditation
Casino operator Great Canadian Entertainment announced that ten of its land-based casinos located across Canada’s coasts have achieved Responsible Gaming (RG) Check accreditation from one of the world’s most strict Responsible Gambling accreditation bodies.
The RG Check is governed by the Responsible Gaming Council (RGC), an internationally accredited non-profit advocacy group that promotes and advances responsible gambling standards by checking gambling facilities. The RGC examines casinos on criteria including player safeguards, staff training, self-exclusion possibilities, advertising standards, and continuous, proactive improvement and advocacy of safe gambling.
The following casinos receiving accreditation are:
- Great Canadian Casino Vancouver
- Chances Maple Ridge
- Casino Nova Scotia Halifax
- Casino Nova Scotia Sydney
- Elements Casino Brantford
- Casino Ajax
- Elements Casino Mohawk
- Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel
- River Rock Casino Resort
- Elements Casino Surrey
They were carefully evaluated based on their RG programs, employee training, and player-protection initiatives.
“Receiving RG Check reaccreditation at 10 of our properties in October is a tremendous milestone,” said Keno Maseli, Social Responsibility and Sustainability Manager, Great Canadian Entertainment. “Responsible Gambling is at the heart of our operations, and this recognition reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring our guests can enjoy safe, fun, and sustainable experiences. This achievement is also a testament to the work of our team members, the Responsible Gambling Council and our Crown partners in setting the high standards of excellence in player protection across our entire portfolio.”
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/
